Vitalik Buterin Highlights Core Issue in Ethereum Applications

Applications built on the Ethereum platform require a “good social philosophy” more than the blockchain infrastructure itself, according to Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of the network.

He stated that it is at the application level where crucial decisions are made, determining how programs will function and what benefits they will bring. Developers of these solutions, in Buterin’s view, should understand the values of decentralization and Ethereum’s overall contribution to the global context.

“Programs are 80% dependent on the goals they pursue. The applications being created are directly linked to the creators’ perceptions of what they should serve,” noted the Ethereum co-founder.

Buterin compared this to basic technical infrastructure, which is more resilient to developers’ worldviews. For instance, the programming language C++ will remain largely unchanged, even if created by an author with radical views.

However, the Ethereum ecosystem, despite its partial universality, remains vulnerable to ideological influences. Buterin pointed out that changes such as the transition to Proof-of-Stake or support for “light clients” are directly tied to developers’ visions.

As examples of applications with a “good social philosophy,” Buterin cited Railgun, Farcaster, Polymarket, and the messenger Signal. In his opinion, such programs “do the right things by default.”

Conversely, platforms like Pump.fun, FTX, and the Terra ecosystem possess a “bad social philosophy,” according to Buterin.

He explained that the differences between applications reflect the divergence in their creators’ beliefs and how they perceive their role in the ecosystem.

Back in March, Buterin suggested moving away from the concept of “public goods” in favor of “open” products.